Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community changes sharply along
elevation, and population-level adaptation of invasive plant to
mycorrhizal communities may also occur. We conducted an experiment to
compare the growth performance of elevational populations of invasive
Galinsoga quadriradiata that were inoculating with AMF
communities from across the same range of elevations. Galinsoga
quadriradiata performed best when inoculated with AMF form the same
elevation where the invader was collected, and consistently poorly when
inoculated with AMF from the highest elevation that has not been
invaded. The growth of G. quadriradiata was promoted by AMF
inoculation in polyculture but suppressed in monoculture. Our results
suggest that the population-level adaptation of G. quadriradiata
to mycorrhizal communities changed along elevation. Biotic interactions
with AMF communities and native plant competitors play important roles
in limiting plant invasion into high-altitude area. It provides new
insight to mechanisms for plant invasion in mountains.